A promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised
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נֶדֶר (neder) is a vow, a solemn promise made to God that commits the speaker to a stated act, offering, abstention, or dedication. Some vows are conditional, as in Jacob's Bethel promise; others concern offerings, Nazirite dedication, gratitude, or worship.
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Full entry for נֶדֶר (H5088) · Open the biblical lexicon
נֶדֶר (neder) is a vow, a solemn promise made to God that commits the speaker to a stated act, offering, abstention, or dedication. Some vows are conditional, as in Jacob's Bethel promise; others concern offerings, Nazirite dedication, gratitude, or worship.
The BSB source-word alignment has 60 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a vow (11), my vows (7), vow (6), your vows (5), the vows (3).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 28:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (20), Psalms (9), Deuteronomy (6), Leviticus (6).
נֶדֶר (neder) is a vow, a solemn promise made to God that commits the speaker to a stated act, offering, abstention, or dedication. Some vows are conditional, as in Jacob's Bethel promise; others concern offerings, Nazirite dedication, gratitude, or worship. The noun does not mean that every vow is wise, required, or acceptable merely because it invokes God.
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 says that a vow must not be delayed once made, while refraining from vowing is not sin. Ecclesiastes 5 similarly warns against rash speech and unfulfilled promises. These texts value truthful fulfillment and also commend restraint: worshipers should not manufacture spiritual obligations through impulsive words, bargaining, or public pressure.
Narratives display both faithful and dangerous vows. Hannah's vow is fulfilled in the dedication of Samuel, the sailors in Jonah 1:16 make vows after fearing the Lord, and Judges 11 records Jephthah's devastating vow and its aftermath. The latter passage is not a model inviting imitation or proof that God approves every vowed act. A vow cannot make evil good or override God's prior commands.
Neder moves through patriarchal promises, regulated sacrifices and Nazirite commitments, wartime vows, thanksgiving, temple worship, and wisdom warnings. Scripture treats vowed speech as serious while explicitly saying that making a vow is not required.
Jacob makes a conditional vow at Bethel concerning God's presence, protection, return, worship, and a tenth.
A man who vows or swears a binding pledge must not break his word but must act according to it.
A vow to the Lord must be fulfilled without delay, while the next verses make clear that not vowing is no sin.
Hannah vows that if given a son she will give him to the Lord all his life.
Wisdom warns against delayed fulfillment and says it is better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. A binding personal commitment to God, typically involving a promised gift or action upon fulfillment of a condition
A binding personal commitment to God, typically involving a promised gift or action upon fulfillment of a condition
a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised BDB: vow Usage: vow(-ed).
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 60 lexical occurrence verses.
נֶדֶר is built from this root:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Neder helps a congregation take promises to God seriously without encouraging people to make more of them. Deuteronomy explicitly says that refraining from a vow is not sin, while delay or failure after vowing brings accountability. Ecclesiastes adds a warning against rash religious speech. Narrative examples are mixed: Hannah's vow belongs to a faithful story, Jonah promises fulfillment after rescue, and Jephthah's vow exposes the horror that can follow reckless words.
A sermon should never suggest that invoking God turns a harmful promise into obedience. Prior divine commands govern every voluntary pledge. Modern applications may include membership, marriage, ordination, financial, or ministry promises, but each has its own moral and legal shape. Truthful speech, wise counsel, freedom from coercion, protection of vulnerable people, and repentance for wrongful commitments matter more than dramatic displays of devotion.
Deut.23.21
Neder names a vow or promised thing. Related oath, ban, dedication, and freewill-offering terms overlap in some contexts but should not be collapsed.
Jesus and James stress truthful, non-manipulative speech. Their oath teaching should be interpreted directly and then related thematically to Old Testament vow cautions.
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